Knowledge, awareness and attitude on Monosodium Glutamate among Muslim consumers in Brunei Darussalam

As Muslims now emphasise the need to consume only what is halal, they might often overlook the 'thayyib' element in the halalan thayyiban. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one of the most controversial food enhancers, as studies have associated MSG consumption with multiple illnesses. Moreover, the use of MSG is prevalent in the Brunei community. The study aims to assess the knowledge, level of awareness and attitude toward MSG among Muslim consumers in Brunei. This study also aims to know the importance of acquiring knowledge on MSG among Muslim consumers. A questionnaire survey via Google Forms was used for this study. The survey gained 120 respondents and the data were extracted and analysed statistically using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25. The findings show that most respondents only acquire a basic knowledge of MSG. Next, most respondents were found to have an average awareness of MSG and a negative attitude towards MSG. Regarding the importance of acquiring knowledge on MSG, the findings show that 81% of the respondents asserted that it is important to acquire knowledge on MSG with the preservation of health as the most prevalent answer consumers give. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for authorities to raise awareness, educate the public on nutrition, ingredients, and labelling, organise educational programs, regulate MSG use in food outlets, and improve halal product labels. Overall, this research has provided valuable insights into the knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of Muslim consumers in Brunei towards MSG for consumers, authorities, policymakers, industry players, and public health.